SUV Review: 2005 Dodge Durango

2005 Dodge Durango

PHOTO: Handout, Chrysler

By Angela Forgeron, Canwest News Service

Originally published: August 10, 2011

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

Two things can make a woman feel more petite than her actual size — spending time with a big companion and a Dodge Durango. Revamped for 2004, you might say the Durango increases from the stature of an outfielder to a fullback. Climb in for the first time, even with running boards, and you feel like you’ve conquered a small hill.

Sit behind the wheel, look down onto fellow motorists and you know you’re in command of the road. Tap the throttle and the civilized — yet powerful — Hemi roars. Invite the gang along for a road trip and seven will fit easily into this SUV.

Redesigned from the ground up, the Durango is nearly 18-cm longer, seven-centimetres taller and six-centimetres wider than its predecessor. Inside and out, the full-sized truck reels in gigantic proportions.

Under the topline Limited’s hood is a 5.7-litre Hemi Magnum V8 that unleashes 335 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque. Initially, the Durango gets off to a slow start — the massive metal structure weighs in at 2,360 kilograms. But when the tachometer rises to 4,000 r.p.m., you know you’re playing in the big leagues.

And just in case the Durango’s aggressive stature and well-placed Hemi badging isn’t enough, a bumper sticker — “Yeah, it’s got a Hemi” — confirms the Hemification. A five-speed, smooth-shifting automatic transmission is standard. The Durango’s hearty towing capacity, up to 3,946 kg, is fit to pull everything from a boat to a recreational trailer.

The SUV offers a surprisingly sound and non-truck-like ride. The first time out, the suspension felt bouncy, but as the week wore on the ride began to impress.

It moves over residential street speed bumps like a graceful show-jumping horse, and, with the new rubberized speed bumps popping up in back alleys, the Durango doesn’t so much as flinch. Nor does it vibrate when rolling over grated, speed-reducing rumble strips — and it stays quiet inside on city and highway roads — 20 per cent thicker front door glass helps reduce cockpit noise.

The strange thing about the Durango is that, though it is big, it doesn’t feel huge to drive.

More than a few times I simply slipped into parking spots — expecting to have to fix the angle of the manoeuvre once or twice. And the SUV easily glides through traffic, though I suspect fellow motorists move out of the way more quickly when they see the Durango heaving in their rear-view mirror.

The only spooky situation is passing buses. Both people-movers are wide and it’s a bit of a battle to run side by side on city streets.

Outfitted with four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, the Durango comes to a quick, confident halt. All models come with standard all-wheel-drive systems. An optional two-speed transfer case with low-range gear ratio is available.

Inside, the fit and finish feel more upscale than some luxury SUVs: Keep in mind this is a Dodge, known more for its rugged than manicured looks.

Large white gauges, backlit in soft green, are easy on the eyes at night. The Limited’s centre stack is surrounded in brushed metal, providing a more expensive look. Power-adjustable pedals are standard on the Limited and allow two drivers to store pre-programmed settings. The only qualm with the Durango’s interior is the placement of the speakers on the long dash. Under certain sunny conditions they cause a wicked reflection on the windshield.

With the Durango’s increased dimensions, there is more room for people and cargo. The first- and second-row occupants get the best, most easy-to-access seats and loads of headroom, even with the newly available sunroof, and legroom.

Way back in the third row, one adult passenger said the journey to the rear was like “jumping through hoops.” Though the second-row, fold-and-tumble seats — that also recline — slide forward, the crawl space is difficult to get through. Once there, the seats aren’t overly comfortable.

Mostly, this rear bench will be folded flat into the floor, freeing up room for cargo space — loads of it. With all seats up, the trunk area has 20-cubic feet of space — enough to carry home goods from a day of shopping. With the third-row, 50/50-split seat folded, the cargo area more than triples to 68.4 cu. ft. With both rows folded, cargo space rises to 102.4 cu. ft., which means just about any big-ticket, 48-inch item should fit back there.

Outside, the massive chrome grille is menacing, and pedestrians did double takes, glancing back at the Durango’s stealthy front end. The aerodynamic roofline is very tall and arches up from the sloping windshield. Though it fits in underground parking lots, the tall antenna constantly rubbed along the roof like a bumper car attached to the ceiling.

The Limited comes loaded with just about every feature on an SUV driver’s wish list: leather interior, sunroof, Infinity Adrenaline audio system with eight speakers, AM/FM stereo and six-disc player with MP3 capabilities, air conditioning, with a second-row climate-control feature, and power everything.

Gas? Don’t ask. At least interest rates are low. You may want to consider a loan to fuel the Durango (400 kilometres of city driving rang up to about $70).

It’s pretty rare that I climb into a full-sized SUV for a review. The city is my territory and giant vehicles just don’t seem practical on busy, tight urban streets. But the Durango, as massive as it is, fares fantastically. In fact, with the cool Hemi engine, versatile interior room and bold styling inside and out, I’d go as far as to say it’s Hemi-riffic.